Device for drilling wells



Feb. 21, 1956 W. J. BIELSTEIN DEVICE FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed May 21, 1952' INVENTOR.

Walter J- Bielsfein,

United States Patent 9 DEVICE FOR DRILLING WELLS Walter J. B ielstein, Corpus Christi, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1952, Serial No. 289,159 Claims. (Cl. 255-3) The present invention is directed to a device for drilling a well in an earth formation. More particularly, the mvention is directed to apparatus in, which vibrations are created for drilling a well.

In its more specific aspects, the invention is directed to well drilling devices in which a well bore is drilled by a simultaneous rotation and vibrations of a drill stem.

The device of the present invention may be briefly described as involving a hollow drill stem adapted to be connected at its lower end to a drill bit having a passageway for fluid therethrough. The drill stem has at least one drill collar arranged within it and within the drill collar is a valve comprising a rotatable element which has at least one passageway for flow of drilling fluid through the passageway. The valve is adapted to be opened and closed alternately by rotation of the rotatable element. Means integral with or connected to the rotatable element are provided for rotating the element to open and close the valve whereby vibrations are created for transmittal downwardly in the drill stem and to the drill bit on interruption of fluid flow through the valve. The apparatus contemplates provision of means for preventing upward travel of vibrations in the drill stem. To accomplish such end a spline or key arranged in a keyway above the drill collar is provided which allows the vibrations resulting from interruption of fluid flow through the valve to be transmitted downwardly on the drill stem.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which Fig. l is a sectional view of one embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a view looking downwardly on the valve and valve housing of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view looking downwardly on the rotatable element or valve plate;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing a preferred embodiment of a valve employed in the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a view looking down on the valve housing of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a downward view of the rotatable element or plate of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral 11 designates a drill stem having attached to it at its lower end by mating threads 12 a conventional type of drill bit 13, such as a fish tail bit, having water courses or passageways 14. It will be noted that drill stem 11 has a central passageway 15 and that the drill bit 13 is provided with a chamber 16 through which the drilling fluid flows.

Arranged in the drill stem 11 and a part thereof is a drill collar or collars 17 in which is mounted a valve 18 provided with a rotatable element or plate 19 which is provided with passageways 20.

it will be noted that the valve housing 18 has ports 21 through which the drilling fluid or mud flows. The valve ice? housing 18 is located in the drill collar 17 with a lockdown ring 22.

Connected to the rotatable plate 19 by a key 23' is a shaft 23 which is provided with a helical vane or spiral valve actuator 24. The shaft 23 is mounted in drill collar 17 on a bearing plate 25 at its upper end which is provided with passageways 26 for passage of drilling fluid from passageway 15 to chamber 16. The shaft 23 is also mounted at its lower end on a bearing 27 in the valve housing 18.

The drill stem 11 is provided with a recess 28 in which is arranged a packing 29 to seal the drill collar on movement of the device as will be described. To transmit rotation from the drill pipe to the drill collar and to eliminate pulsations from the drill pipe 11 the drill stem 11 is provided with keyways 30 in which are arranged keys or splines 31 on drill collar 17. Keyways 30 and keys 31 are arranged in the drill stem 11 and collar 17, respectively, so that the drill collar assemblage may vibrate and rotate but the drill stem only rotates.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, identical numerals will be employed to designate identical parts to Figs. 1 to 3, a difierent type of valve including a rotatable element is described. In this embodiment of my invention a valve housing 40 is arranged in the drill collar 17 and includes a rotatable valve element 41 provided with passageways 42. The rotatable valve element 41 is provided with and connected to a shaft 43 by a key 43' which shaft is mounted at an upper end in a bearing 44 and at a lower end in a bearing 45. The valve assembly 40 including the rotatable element 41 is locked into position with a lock-down ring 46. In this embodiment of my invention the rotatable element or plate 41 is provided with a plurality of transverse inclined faces or surfaces 47 which allow rotation of the element 41 on impingement of drilling fluid against the faces or surfaces 47. It will be noted further that the valve housing 40 is provided with ports 48 to allow entry of the drilling fluid to the rotatable element and for flow of drilling fluid into the drill bit 13 and outwardly through passageways 14.

The apparatus of the present invention is employed in the following manner with respect to Figs. 1 to 4:

As is conventional practice during drilling operations, drilling fluid or mud is pumped down through the passageway 15. In my apparatus the flow is through the passageways 26 and thence against the helical vane 24 which causes rotation of the shaft 23 which, in turn, rotates the valve plate or element 19.. The rotation of helical vane 24 and shaft 23 causes rotation of rotary valve plate or element 19. Valve 18 has passageways 21 through which fluid passes when pumping operations are in progress and which serve the purpose of maintaining circulation of fluid past the vane 24 so that rotation of the vane will not be entirely interrupted. As valve plate or element 19 rotates as a result of fluid forces acting against the helical vane, the valve plate or element 19 travels from a full open position, which is with the two main segments of the valve plate 19 almost completely covered by the blank portion of valve 18, to a full closed position which is with the two main segments of the valve plate 19 disposed within the openings in valve 18. At the full open position of the valve 18 fluid travels at a maximum rate, whereas at the closed position a relatively small volume of fluid flows. The rate change in fluid volume is rapid, and the energy lost by the fluid in changing from the maximum rate to a minimum rate of almost zero is dissipated through the drill collar assembly to the bit and thence to the formation being drilled in the form of a vibration. The stopping of the fluid results in a very rapid build up in force on the drill collar as a result .of the dissipating kinetic energy contained in the fluid.

This creates a water hammer which results in vibration in the drill collar 17. This vibration is transmitted downwardly through drill collar 17 to the drill bit 13 resulting in a hammer eflect on the formations being.

Since it is undesirable to allow the vibrations to proceed up through the drill collar assembly to the drill stem provision is made through the keys and keyways 31 and 36, respectively, to allow the vibration to be transmitted only in a downward directon. Thus, in

accordance with my invention, I vibrate the drill collar assembly while it' is being rotated and transmit this vibration downwardly therein to allow the drill bit to penetrate formations more readily than heretofore.

The apparatus of Figs. 5 to 8 operates in a similar manner as to the creation of vibrations. Figs. 5 to 8, it will be seen that the valve. operating mechanism is built into the rotatable element. The design of the rotating element in Figure 7 is such that the slanting surface 47 begins to be exposed to the openings 48 of valve housing 40 shown in Figure 6 at the same time ports 42 in the rotating element disappear into the housing. The location. of the inlet to the ports 42 is adjacent the leading edges of the rotating element and the area of the rotating element is greater than the opening 43 in the valve housing. As the slanting surface 47 disappears into the valve housing, the inlet to the ports 42 begins to emerge from the housing. Once rotation is started, continued rotation is assured by the relative location of the two driving surfaces 47 and the ports 42 and to some extent by the momentum developed by the rotating valve. The passage of drilling fluid from the passageway 15 causes it to impinge on the faces or surfaces 47' which allows rotation of the plate 41, interrupting the flow of drilling fluid to the chamber 16 and the passageways 14' creating a water hammer effect and causes the drill collar 17 to vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted downwardly on the drill collar 17 and allow the drill bit to penetrate the formation being drilled more readily than heretofore as has been described with respect to Figs. 1' and 2.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent is: v

l. A device for drilling awell which comprises, in combination, a hollow drill stem connected at its lower end to a drill bit, a drill collar arranged Within said drill stern provided with a passageway for drilling fluid, a stationary valve housing arranged in the passageway in said drill collar having a port for passage of drilling fluid therethrough, and a rotatable valve element arranged in said valve housing, saidrotatable valve element being provided with ports inclined to the axis of the drill collar for flow of drilling fluid and provided with opposed peripheral surfaces also inclined to the axis of the drill collar, flow of drilling fluid through the drill collar passageway impinging against said inclined surfaces to rotate said valve element relative to the port of the said valve housing to restrict said flow of drilling fluid to flow through said ports in the rotatable valve element when said rotatable valve element is rotated into position to close the port'in the valve housing whereby rotation of said rotatable valve.- element is maintained and vibrations are transmitted downwardly on said drill stem on restriction of fluid flow through the Referring to 4,. passageway in said drill collar to flow through said ports" in the rotatable valve element.

2. A device for drilling a well which comprises, in combination, a drill bit, a hollow drill stem for passage of drilling fluid downwardly therethrough and outwardly from said drill bit through at least one passageway therein, a drill collar provided-"with a passageway for drilling fluid connected to. said bit and to said drill stem, at stationary valve housing arranged in the passageway in said drill collar having ports for passage of drilling fluid therethrough, a rotatable valve element arranged in said valve housing, said rotatable valve element being provided with ports inclined to the axis of the drill collar for passage of drilling fluid and opposed surfaces also inclined to the axis of the drill collar, said valve element being of a general cylindrical shape having opposite peripheral segmental recesses providing said opposed inclined surfaces, flow of drilling fluid through the drill collar passageway impinging against said inclined surfaces to rotate said valve element relative to the ports of said valve housing 7 to restrict said flow of drilling fluid to flow through. said ports in the rotatable valve element when said rotatable valve element is rotated into position to close the ports in the valve housing whereby rotation of said rotatable valve element is maintained and vibrations are transmitted downwardly on saiddrill stem on restriction of fluid flow through the passageway in said drillcollar to flow through said ports in the rotatable valve element.

3. A device for drilling a well which comprises, in combination, a hollow drill stem connected at its lower end to a drill bit, a drill collar arranged within said drill stem provided with a passageway for drilling fluid, a stationary valve housing arranged in the passageway in said drill collar having. ports for passage of drilling fluid therethrough, a. rotatable valve element arranged in said' valve housing, said rotatable valve element being provided with ports inclined to-the axis of the drill collar for passage of drilling fluid and opposed surfaces also inclined to the axis of the drill collar, said valve element being of a general cylindrical shape having opposite peripheral segmental recesses providing said opposed inclined surfaces, 'flow of. drilling. fluid through the drill collar passageway impinging against said inclined surfaces to rotate said valve element relative to the ports of said valve housing to restrict said flow of drilling fluid to flow through said portsin the rotatable valve element when said rotatable valve element is rotated into position to. closethe ports. in. the valve housing whereby rotation of said rotatable valve element is maintained and vibrations are transmitted downwardly on said drill stemon. restriction of fluidflow through the passageway in said drill collar to flow through said-ports in the rotatable valve element.

4. A device for drilling a well which comprises, in combination, a hollow drill stern connected at its lower endto a drill. bit, a drill collar arranged within said drill stern provided with a passageway for drilling fluid, a stationary valvev housing arranged in the passageway in said drill collar having ports for passage of drilling fluid therethrough,. a rotatable valvev element arranged in said valve housing, said rotatable valve element being provided with ports inclined tothe axis of the drill collar for passage of. drilling, fluid and opposed surfaces also inclined to the axis of the drill collar, said valve element being of a general cylindrical shape having opposite peripheral segmental recesses providing said opposed inclined surfaces, flow of drilling fluid through the drill Y collar passageway impinging against said inclined surfaces to rotate. said valve element relative to the ports of said arranged in said: keyway toprevent upward travel of vibrations created by restriction of flow of said drilling fluid whereby rotation of said rotatable valve element is maintained and said vibrations are transmitted downwardly on said drill stern on restriction of fluid flow through the passageway in said drill collar to flow through said ports in the rotatable valve element.

5. A device for drilling a well which comprises, in combination, a hollow drill stern connected at its lower end to a drill bit, a drill collar arranged Within said drill stem provided with a passageway for drilling fluid, a stationary valve housing arranged in the passageway in said drill collar having ports for passage of drilling fluid therethrough, a rotatable valve element arranged in said valve housing, said rotatable valve element being provided with ports inclined to the axis of the drill collar for passage of drilling fluid and opposed surfaces also inclined to the axis of the drill collar, said valve element being of a general cylindrical shape having opposite peripheral segmental recesses providing said opposed inclined surfaces, flow of drilling fluid through the drill collar passageway impinging against said inclined surfaces to rotate said valve element relative to the ports of said valve housing to restrict said flow of drilling fluid to flow through said ports in the rotatable valve element when said rotatable valve element is rotated into position to close the ports in the valve housing whereby rotation of said rotatable valve element is maintained and vibrations are created in said drill stem, and means in said drill stem for preventing upward travel of said vibrations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 198,610 Harrison Dec. 25, 1877 701,391 Pruszkowski June 3, 1902 1,132,063 Bardeen Mar. 16, 1915 1,946,989 Smith Feb. 13, 1934 2,608,184 Bergen Aug. 26, 1952 

4. A DEVICE FOR DRILLING A WELL WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW DRILL STEM CONNECTED AT ITS LOWER END TO A DRILL BIT, A DRILL COLLAR ARRANGED WITHIN SAID DRILL STEM PROVIDED WITH A PASSAGEWAY FOR DRILLING FLUID, A STATIONARY VALVE HOUSING ARRANGED IN THE PASSAGEWAY IN SAID DRILL COLLAR HAVING PORTS FOR PASSAGE OF DRILLING FLUID THERETHROUGH, A ROTATABLE VALVE ELEMENT ARRANGED IN SAID VALVE HOUSING, SAID ROTATABLE VALVE ELEMENT BEING PROVIDED WITH PORTS INCLINED TO THE AXIS OF THE DRILL COLLAR FOR PASSAGE OF DRILLING FLUID AND OPPOSED SURFACES ALSO INCLINED TO THE AXIS OF THE DRILL COLLAR, SAID VALVE ELEMENT BEING OF A GENERAL CYLINDRICAL SHAPE HAVING OPPOSITE PERIPHERAL SEGMENTAL RECESSES PROVIDING SAID OPPOSED INCLINED SURFACES, FLOW OF DRILLING FLUID THROUGH THE DRILL COLLAR PASSAGEWAY IMPINGING AGAINST SAID INCLINED SURFACES TO ROTATE SAID VALVE ELEMENT RELATIVE TO THE PORTS OF SAID VALVE HOUSING TO RESTRICT SAID FLOW OF DRILLING FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH SAID PORTS IN THE ROTATABLE VALVE ELEMENT WHEN SAID ROTATABLE VALVE ELEMENT IS ROTATED INTO POSITION TO CLOSE THE PORTS IN THE VALVE HOUSING, A KEYWAY ARRANGED IN SAID DRILL STEM, AND A KEY ON SAID DRILL COLLAR SLIDABLY ARRANGED IN SAID KEYWAY TO PREVENT UPWARD TRAVEL OF VIBRATIONS CREATED BY RESTRICTION OF FLOW OF SAID DRILLING FLUID WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE VALVE ELEMENT IS MAINTAINED AND SAID VIBRATIONS ARE TRANSMITTED DOWNWARDLY ON SAID DRILL STEM ON RESTRICTION OF FLUID FLOW THROUGH THE PASSAGEWAY IN SAID DRILL COLLAR TO FLOW THROUGH SAID PORTS IN THE ROTATABLE VALVE ELEMENT. 